"Out of My League," the current single, has a retro vibe but one more suggestive of '80s new-wave electro dance-pop.

These hits to the contrary, Fitz & the Tantrums is not aiming for nostalgia, keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna gently insists.

"Our first album ('Pickin' Up the Pieces') was not meant to be retro soul," he said. "We were just doing what we do, and it came out sounding a certain way. We're about a lot of things."

There was no specific sonic blueprint for the band's vibrant new album, "More Than Just a Dream." It just happened.

"We're six people with extremely diverse influences," Ruzumna said. "We decided, 'Let's do whatever we want on this record. The studio was a no-judgement zone. We gave ourselves time to experiment."

Fitz & the Tantrums, who recently toured with Bruno Mars, will headline a sold-out show Nov. 15 at Cleveland's House of Blues.

In a recent telephone interview, Ruzumna talked about his hectic, exhilarating life as one of the Tantrums.

Q. Did Fitz & the Tantrums start out as an L.A. bar band, or was being a recording act always a focused goal?

A. "It started our as an idea by Fitz (vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick). I don't know if he fully knew what he wanted to do with it, but the band formed quickly. He called a friend, James (King, saxophonist) who knew a bunch of us from around the way. We had our first rehearsal, and a week later, we started doing shows. We started flying before we walked. Even at these tiny singer-songwriter places, Fitz was jumping around and doing these David Lee Roth kicks."

Q. Do your records capture your live sound?

A. "I love the records, but the live show takes it further, especially with the first album. Instead of trying to duplicate the record exactly, we decided to amp up the energy and put it on steroids, maybe overcompensating a bit because there's no guitar player. Visually, we're finally in a position to do a little production in our shows. We didn't even have a road crew until our last tour. This is a very DIY (do it yourself) band."

Q. Tell me about some of the exciting things you've gotten to do, like television and big festivals.

A. "We've done a lot of television. It's always exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Just a few weeks ago, we were doing Jay Leno, and the drummer and I looked at each other and said, 'Are you nervous?' 'No, you?' 'No.' It was crazy. It felt like normal. The festivals are always pretty incredible when you look out there. I remember when I was a kid watching MTV and seeing bands playing for massive crowds and it seemed unimaginable. Then we're onstage at Coachella and Lollapalooza doing the same thing. I told myself, 'I'm going to enjoy this moment and not be in my own little world up here.' "